Violin sound-post



R. E. HARDEf-L,

VIOLIN SOUND POST,

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 23. 1911.

1,327,157, Patented Jan. 6,1920.

NM I! w/MEssgs UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT ERWIN' HARDEE, OF SAVANNAH, GEORGIA.

VIOLIN SOUND-POST.

Application filed November 23, 1917.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT E. HARDEE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Savannah, in the county of Chatham and State of Georgia, have made certain new and useful Improvements in Violin Sound- Posts, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates particularly to a sound post for violins, etc., which Wlll replace the usual sound post and bass bar, my object being the provision of a means of connection between the top and back of the instrument, which is so constructed and arranged as to more perfectly transmit vibrations, than is possible with the connections heretofore proposed.

Generally speaking, my invention comprises a member of somewhat the general shape of a bridge, and is disposed transversely of the violin and in alinement wlth the bridge between the top and back of the instrument.

Referring to the accompanying drawing illustrating my invention and forming a part of this specification Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through the body of a violin, illustrating the application of my improved sound post thereto; 1

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section taken substantially on line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detailed perspective view of my improved sound post, and

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the violln shown in Fig. 1.

In Figs. 1, 2 and 4:, I have shown a violin, between the top 10 and back 11 of which, my improved sound post generally indicated at 12 is disposed in alinement with the string bridge 13, which supports the strings 14, so that the string vibrations will be transmitted directly through the bridge 13, top 10, sound post 12, and back 11.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 6, 1920.

Serial No. 203,583.

Generally speaking, the sound post 12 as proposed by my invention, and as shown in detail in Fig. 3, is somewhat the shape of a bridge such as that seen at 13, and shown particularly in Fig. 2, and is of a width either greater or less than, or equaling that of, the bridge. This sound post I construct of a single piece of material, the intermediate upper and lower portions of which are cut away at 15, in order to provide upper and lower lugs 16 and 17, having curved surfaces, as seen, or these cut away portions may be omitted so as to form even and continuous contact with the adjacent portions of the top 10 and back 11.

The sound post 12, as proposed by my invention is furthermore provided with inwardly projecting horizontally disposed side kerfs 18, adjacent the lugs 16 and 17, each of said kerfs terminating at its inner end in an enlarged recess 19, and being provided with an opening 20 substantially in the center. This arrangement renders the lugs elastic to a certain degree, in their mounting on the body of the sound post in order to modify the transmitted vibrations.

I claim:

A sound post for violins comprising a fiat substantially rectangular body formed centrally thereof with a transversely extending opening, lugs formed on the upper and lower edges of the body at the corners thereof and having their horizontal surfaces curved to conform to the internal transverse curvature of the belly and back of the violin, respectively, and kerfs provided in the vertical edges of the body adjacent said lugs to provide weakened portions, the kerfs for the lugs on one edge being reversely formed with respect to the kerfs for the lugs on the other edge.

ROBERT ERWIN HARDEE. 

